Here at last!

TANA Gallery Bookshelf: Salaryman + Superman

Shirokane Art Complex Openings

The first shows of the New Year in the Shirokane art complex were a bit underwhelming. Kodama gallery held a group show "ignore your perspective 11" featuring the works of Sunao Horikawa, Masahiro Sekiguchi, Keisuke Sugimoto, Hidekazu Tanaka, Mayuko Wada and Shuhei Yagi. Some of the artists represented were moved up in the ranks from the second floor (young artist) space in the gallery's Kyoto space to the gallery's Tokyo space. 

Another group show, at Nanzuka Underground, combined the works of the Tokyo-based Hiroki Tsukuda and Tomoo Gokita and a young Belgian artist Rinus van de Velde. The exhibition was loosely based on the theme of graphic representation, showcasing the ability of the three artists to handle the subtleties of gray scale. 

Yamamoto Gendai, who is currently having one of their artists as the subject of a spectacularly produced solo show at the Mori museum, started the 2011 with a solo show of Tiger Tateishi's work. Online Radar presented three large canvases that have been held in a corporate collection from 1994 (the time of their production) until now. 

 

 

Ai Weiwei at Misa Shin Gallery

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Tokyo Metro Manners Posters

The new Tokyo Metro manners poster is out. This one is about helping an old lady to get her parcel off the luggage shelf. It might now be as entertaining as a 2009 poster of a hammered salaryman surrounded by beer cans, or a 2010 one with an obliging dude sporting an afro, a hawaiian shirt and a pair of getas, he getting ready to haul a heavy suitcase for a grandma with a newborn; but, all the usual tropes are in place: gawking (approving/disapproving) bystander, vaguely foreign-looking woman who is learning her good manners, a local in need of help or consideration. The inscriptions vary between "Please do it again" (approved behaviors) and "Please do it at home" (disapproved behaviors). This series, that has been running since 2008 trumps multiple other manner posters with its bold graphics golden yellow background, Ben-day dots, and laconic yet contrived subject matter . You can browse older posters here. Follow the link to the Japanese language site and click on 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Emilia and Ilya Kabakov: Artists' Talk

Just saw the old interview with the Kabakovs, available as a podcast on the Tate Museum webpage. See my comment above. 

Oldenburg Giant Saw in Odaiba

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